Online remote control configuration system

Abstract

A remote control is configured to control a multimedia appliance and to be communicatively coupled to a remote server via a network. The remote server is configured to provides information to the remote control via the network. The remote control includes a transmitter configured to send commands to the multimedia appliance. The remote control further includes a memory configured to store information provided by the remote server. The remote control further includes a controller configured to synchronize information with the remote server to obtain current information on an irregular basis from the remote server to thereby obtain information that degrades partially over time.

1. A remote control configured to control a media appliance and to be communicatively coupled to a remote server via a network and the remote server is configured to provide information to the remote control via the network, the remote control comprising:
 a transmitter configured to send commands to the media appliance for playing a piece of media; 
 a memory configured to store programming information provided by the remote server for the piece of media; and 
 a controller configured to synchronize programming information with the remote server to obtain current programming information on an irregular basis from the remote server for the piece of media, 
 wherein:
 subsequent to synchronization, the controller is configured to degrade the current programming information, 
 the degraded current programming information includes information for another piece of media related to the piece of media, and 
 the information for the other piece of media includes less information than the information in the current programming guide for the piece of media. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The remote control of  claim 1 , wherein the programming information provided by the remote server relates to the media appliance. 
     
     
       3. The remote control of  claim 1 , wherein the current programming information includes programming information for shows. 
     
     
       4. The remote control of  claim 3 , wherein the current programming information is current for a period of time prior to which the piece of media is scheduled to play. 
     
     
       5. The remote control of  claim 4 , wherein shows are television shows, and the current programming information includes a schedule for the television shows. 
     
     
       6. The remote control of  claim 1 , wherein the current programming information includes product recommendations. 
     
     
       7. The remote control of  claim 1 , wherein the network is the Internet. 
     
     
       8. The remote control of  claim 1 , further comprising another transceiver configured to communicate with the remote server over the network to obtain the current programming information. 
     
     
       9. The remote control of  claim 8 , wherein the other transceiver is configured to communicate directly with the remote server over the network. 
     
     
       10. The remote control of  claim 1 , wherein the other transceiver is configured to communicate with the remote server via a host which is coupled to the network. 
     
     
       11. A remote control configured to control a media appliance and communicatively coupled to a remote server, which is configured to provide current information to the remote control, wherein the remote control is configured to communicate with the remote server via a network, the remote control comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a set of commands to the media appliance for playing a piece of media on the media appliance; 
 a memory configured to store the current information provided by the remote server, wherein the information relates to the piece of media; and 
 a controller configured to synchronize with the remote server to obtain the current information on a periodic basis for the piece of media 
 wherein:
 subsequent to synchronization, the controller is configured to degrade the current information by at least selectively updating the current information such that:
 the degraded current information includes information for another piece of media related to the first mentioned piece of media, and 
 the information for the other piece of media includes less information than the information in the current information for the first piece of media. 
 
 
 
     
     
       12. The remote control of  claim 11 , wherein the current information provided by the remote server relates to the media appliance. 
     
     
       13. The remote control of  claim 11 , wherein the current information includes programming information for shows. 
     
     
       14. The remote control of  claim 13 , wherein the programming information is current for a period of time prior to which the piece of media is scheduled to play. 
     
     
       15. The remote control of  claim 11 , wherein the current information includes product recommendations. 
     
     
       16. The remote control of  claim 11 , wherein the network is the Internet. 
     
     
       17. The remote control of  claim 11 , further comprising another transceiver configured to communicate with the remote server over the network to obtain the current information. 
     
     
       18. The remote control of  claim 17 , wherein the other transceiver is configured to communicate directly with the remote server over the network. 
     
     
       19. The remote control of  claim 11 , wherein the other transceiver is configured to communicate with the remote server via a host which is coupled to the network. 
     
     
       20. A remote control configured to control a media appliance and be communicatively coupled to a remote server via a network, wherein the remote server is configured to provide information to the remote control via the network, the remote control device comprises:
 a transmitter configured to send a set of commands to the media appliance to tune the media appliance to a channel; 
 a memory configured to store the information provided by the remote server, wherein the information relates to the channel and to media available on the channel; and 
 a controller configured to synchronize with the remote server to obtain current information for the channel, 
 wherein:
 subsequent to synchronization, the controller is configured to degrade the current information, 
 the degraded current information includes information for additional media available on the channel, 
 the additional media are for recurring programs and the media are for programs related to the recurring programs, 
 and the information for the channel and the additional media subsequent to synchronization is less than the current information for the channel and the media at a time of the synchronization. 
 
 
     
     
       21. A remote control system configured to control a media appliance and communicatively coupled to a remote server that is configured to provide current information to the remote control, wherein the remote control system is configured to communicate with the remote server via a network, the remote control system comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a set of commands to the media appliance for playing a piece of media using the media appliance; 
 a memory configured to store the current information provided by the remote server, wherein the information relates to the piece of media; and 
 a controller configured to obtain from the remote server the current information on a recurrent basis for the piece of media 
 wherein:
 subsequent to synchronization, the controller is configured to degrade the current information by at least selectively updating the current information such that:
 the degraded current information includes information for another piece of media related to the first mentioned piece of media, and 
 the information for the other piece of media includes less information than the information in the current information for the first piece of media. 
 
 
 
     
     
       22. The remote control system of  claim 21 , wherein the transmitter, the memory, and the controller are components of a remote control device of the remote control system. 
     
     
       23. The remote control system of  claim 21 , wherein the current information includes programming information for shows. 
     
     
       24. The remote control system of  claim 23 , wherein the programming information is current for a period of time prior to which the piece of media is scheduled to play. 
     
     
       25. The remote control system of  claim 21 , further comprising a housing in which the transmitter, the memory, and the controller are positioned.